The Brooklyn Nets, from left, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry, pose for photographers with their new jerseys during an NBA basketball news conference, Thursday, July 18, 2013 at Barlcays Center in New York.
(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

In a bit of unfortunate scheduling, the Boston Celtics are slated to host the Brooklyn Nets during the preseason.

I don't say that's unfortunate because the Celtics fear Deron Williams (I'm pretty sure they don't) or believe Jason Kidd will destroy Brad Stevens in a battle of first-year coaches (ditto); Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett simply shouldn't experience their TD Garden homecoming during a game that doesn't matter.

When word of the contest initially spread, speculation immediately started that the two living legends might not dress. Better to save the tears and endless standing ovations for the regular season, you know?

And Pierce seems to agree with the masses. The 10-time All-Star told ESPN NY Radio that he will skip the preseason meeting and only suit up in Boston during the regular season.

"I'll (visit the TD Garden) just one time next year," he said Thursday on ESPN New York 98.7 FM's "The Michael Kay Show," apparently forgetting that the regular season schedule includes two Nets trips to Boston, once on Jan. 26 and again on Feb. 7.

"You just want to get (the emotions) out of the way," he said, indicating he wishes his first trip to Boston would happen sooner than January. "When you gotta go through something tough, I've always been a guy that just wants to get it out of the way. It's gonna be in the back of my mind."

Pierce said he's fully healthy and -- after seeming hesitant to embrace just his second NBA team during an introductory press conference last month -- now becoming more comfortable with his new home.

"I'm really settling in nicely and just embracing the change and looking forward to it," he said.

With the notable exception of the past postseason, Pierce has always seemed to raise his game against the New York Knicks. Including the playoffs, he's scored 30 points or more against the Knicks 14 times, and his clutch shots against the team have resulted in awesome showboating like this:

Moving from Boston to Brooklyn, Pierce will still get to consider the Knicks a rival -- and maybe an even bigger one than before.

"I think the hate (for the Knicks) has grown a little. Everybody knows how much I disliked the Knicks when I was with the Celtics, but I think it's grown to another level," he said.

Pierce is already hyping Deron Williams and/or Brook Lopez as potential MVP candidates. And whether he means it or not, he said this Brooklyn team's "definitely" the most talented he's ever played for -- yes, Boston fans gritting their teeth right now, that presumably includes the 2008 Celtics.

"What team in the NBA can say they can put a starting five out there with all the guys have been All-Stars?" Pierce said. "That's tough. It's definitely the most talented team, but come the end of the year -- June, July -- when I'm out there on the beach, I want to say this is the best team I've ever played on, and the only way we can do that is to win a championship."